For the third Sunday in our Stewardship season, Major the Rev. Jim Short preached on Luke 19:1-10, which is the story of Zacchaeus. After referencing last week’s sermon (and the quote from Fr. Richard Rohr about merit) Jim leads us through the text, weaving his way with quotes from Sunday School era songs of his youth, an 80’s pop song, and Civil Rights leader Ruby Sales.

He also opens up the “client – patron” system of the ancient world, and the shame and honour codes that governed all relationships in Jesus’ day. By uncovering these invisible (to our modern eyes) cultural codes, Jim reveals just how world-changing the behaviour of both Zacchaeus AND Jesus is in this story.

Jim’s final invitation to the congregation is to take on the same level of “somebodiness” — of personhood — that Zacchaeus discovers in his hosting of Jesus. He invites us to bring Jesus into our homes and to decide whether the mission and presence of the United Church of Canada here and now is worth our generous response and participation.